Texas RioGrande Public Defender

03/18/2025

Happy Gideon’s Day / National Public Defender Day to our team here at TRGPD and to our colleagues in the public defense community. Thank you for your dedication to protecting the rights of the accused and your commitment to providing client-centered representation to each and every client. The work you do impacts individual lives and protects all of us by providing a fundamental check to the power of the government. We appreciate you!

02/19/2025

We are hiring!

We have two felony qualified public defender positions open in the coastal bend region that we are looking to fill. TRGPD has a substantial benefits package including employer paid insurance options, student loan repayment assistance, compensatory time accruals for overtime exempt employees, and more. Salary dependent on experience.

Join our team!

https://trgdefender.bamboohr.com/careers/26
https://trgdefender.bamboohr.com/careers/37

Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRGPD) serves seven (7) rural Texas counties and indigent defendants charged under Operation Lone Star. Currently, TRGPD has public defender offices in Beeville, Eagle Pass, and Harlingen. Each of these offices provides indigent defense for one or more of the countie...

12/16/2024

Trial court judgment REVERSED and judgment of ACQUITTAL rendered! Our OLS defense team is celebrating a huge win today in the 13th Court of Appeals. Such an amazing outcome for our client! Shoutout to TRGPD attorneys Billy Pavord and Jackson Winfrey for their work on this appeal. We’d also like to recognize Valerie Torres, Jamie Spencer, and Angelica Cogliano, as well as Lone Star Defenders Office’s Amrutha Jindal and Doug Keller, for their contributions to this case. It truly takes a village, and we are so thankful for your help. So proud of our team! 🙌🎉

12/06/2024

My first time speaking at a TCDLA CLE. My topic was: Technology in the courtroom.

10/25/2024

Today marks my last day as Executive Director of TRGPD. It has been an incredible journey working alongside such a dedicated and talented team, all committed to serving our clients with passion and integrity. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, I’m excited for the future of this organization under the capable leadership of Loura Proske as Interim Executive Director until the board appoints a permanent successor. I wish TRGPD nothing but success and am confident that the organization will continue to thrive and achieve great things for our clients and communities. Thank you, TRGPD, for an unforgettable experience! ~Kimberly Simmons@

10/19/2024

We hosted our inaugural anniversary celebration in San Antonio, marking one year of team growth and dedicated service to indigent and immigrant clients in rural Texas. We appreciate the contributions of all those who attended and had a wonderful time.

10/01/2024

🎉🎉 We’re celebrating our 1-year anniversary! 🎉🎉 Over the past year, we’ve been proud to provide passionate, client-centered defense to indigent individuals across rural Texas, ensuring everyone has access to justice, no matter their circumstances.

From defending the rights of our clients to building a supportive, empowering team, we’re incredibly grateful for the journey so far. Here's to many more years of advocating for those who need it most! 💪⚖️

09/06/2024

Several of our amazing support staff attended the NAPD’s We the Defenders conference in Detroit recently and were featured in the event video. What a great team we have!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GqQRCK2yoS7UNzU2/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/16/2024

At TRGPD, we are committed to safeguarding the right to due process for all individuals. In many criminal cases, the presumption of innocence is a critical principle that must be upheld. ⚖️

Without proper representation, countless individuals risk being unjustly convicted. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every indigent defendant receives a fair trial and that their rights are protected throughout the legal process. 💼

Join us in advocating for a justice system that truly serves all people.

07/12/2024

We love Audrey! Thank you for all that you do!

Audrey Mulholland, a 2019 Justice Fellow with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, shares her takeaways from the fellowship, how the experience impacts her work today, and advice for future Fellows.

06/18/2024

Sean Keane-Dawes, our Director of Attorney Development, wrote an excellent article in this month’s TCDLA magazine. Check it out! Super proud of you Sean. Thanks for being a warrior and great team member!